The Trump administration has cancelled more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump came back to the White House last year, the US State Department said on Monday. Officials said this is the highest number of visa cancellations ever recorded in such a short time. The move is part of the administration’s strict immigration push, which has already led to a large number of deportations. This also includes people who were living in the US legally and held valid visas.
Over 100,000 US visas cancelled, 2500 skilled workers targeted
According to the State Department, the scale of visa cancellations shows just how wide the immigration crackdown has become. Since taking office again, the Trump administration has deported a record number of migrants.
At the same time, the government has made it harder to get new visas. Officials have tightened background checks, imposed new screening processes, and increased monitoring of applicants’ social media activity. In a post on X, the State Department said that over 100,000 visas have now been revoked. This includes around 8,000 student visas and about 2,500 specialised visas. By August 2025, the department was reviewing the status of around 55 million foreign nationals with valid visas.
“Specialised visas” are work visas for highly skilled professionals, like H-1B, L-1B, and O-1, given to people with advanced technical skills or extraordinary talent. The 2,500 revocations hit individuals in these categories who had run-ins with the law, including offences like drunk driving, assault, or theft, according to State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott. He added that visa cancellations have risen dramatically, marking a 150% increase compared to 2024.
The department said it would continue deporting such individuals, saying the steps are meant to keep the country safe. Meanwhile, Trump administration officials have also warned that student visa holders and even permanent residents with green cards could face deportation if they are seen supporting Palestinians or criticising Israel’s actions in the Gaza war.
New system to monitor visa holders
The State Department has also set up a new Continuous Vetting Centre. The goal of this centre is to constantly monitor foreign nationals living in the US and make sure they are following American laws. Pigott said visas would be cancelled for anyone seen as a threat to US citizens.
Back in November, the State Department had said it had cancelled around 80,000 non-immigrant visas since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Those cases involved offences such as drunk driving, assault, and theft.
This year, the State Department issued instructions to US diplomats working abroad. They were told to closely examine visa applicants who Washington may consider hostile to the US. Special attention is being given to applicants with a history of political activism.
By December 2025, the State Department confirmed that over 95,000 visas had been cancelled so far that year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly reminded foreigners that a US visa is a privilege, not a right.